Break out of the courtyard

Friday, October 20th.

Zhang Heping invited a lot of people today, even the Governor of Hong Kong came. Those who had to go to work or had other business didn't dare to refuse, for fear that the Heping Group would cause trouble later!
During the buffet lunch that lasted until 3 p.m., Zhang Heping did two things.

First, he expressed to Team Leader Yin, the Governor of Hong Kong, and others his desire for his second sister to enter the Department of Justice to observe administrative affairs.

Secondly, it selectively responded to a host of miscellaneous questions.

Outsiders weren't really interested in where Zhang Heping's second sister went or what she did; they were more interested in the research projects at Zhang Heping's World Advanced Technology Research Institute.

……

Since the early 1980s, the Special Commissioner's Office in Hong Kong has rented all the suites on the 97th floor of the Peace Hotel on Hong Kong Island at a preferential rate of US$1997 per year, and the rent has not increased for more than ten years since then.

The 98th floor is the Zhang family's reserved suite, and the 99th floor is the penthouse presidential suite, which shows that Zhang Heping took great care of the Hong Kong Special Commissioner's Team.

Therefore, as the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Commissioner's Task Force, Yin Biqin waited until Zhang Heping's banquet ended before bidding him farewell with a complicated smile.

Zhang Pandi's desire to compete for the position of Secretary for Justice on Hong Kong Island was something she had discussed with her team leader, Yin Biqin, beforehand.

If Team Leader Yin wants to compete for the position in the Department of Justice, then Zhang Pandi has no chance, because in the same series and position, Zhang Pandi is at a disadvantage in terms of seniority, unless she and Team Leader Yin compete separately for the positions in two different departments.

Of course, Zhang Pandi could also try to compete for the position with Team Leader Yin by leveraging their connections, but that would strain their already good relationship and cause her to lose a political ally for no reason.

Fortunately, Team Leader Yin is nearing retirement, and having been in Hong Kong Island for 11 years, she wants to be transferred back to the capital.

Even so, Cheung Pan-ti's chances of competing for the position of Department of Justice are slim.

According to the rumors that Team Leader Yin heard, the capital authorities wanted to select someone from the more than one hundred Hong Kong affairs advisors previously appointed in batches to succeed the position of Secretary of Justice, in order to ensure the smooth return of Hong Kong Island.

The term "stability" naturally refers to social stability before and after Hong Kong's return to China, as well as maintaining economic prosperity.

So here's the question: Zhang Heping openly supports his second sister's participation in the Department of Justice's political affairs. With such an obvious intention, what will be the reaction in the capital? Will they consider Zhang Heping's influence on Hong Kong Island?
Team Leader Yin also wanted to know, so after the banquet, she went back to her office and reported the situation of today's luncheon to her superiors via an encrypted line.

……

After attending the luncheon hosted by Cheung Ho-ping, the heads of the three secretaries and thirteen bureaus of the Hong Kong government did not return to their respective offices but were instead summoned to a meeting at Government House.

Also attending the meeting were Americans such as Shen Bi and the chairman of Standard Chartered Bank.

In the conference room, the Governor leisurely toasted a cigar, waiting for those who had not yet arrived.

Others were either drinking tea or coffee, reading newspapers, or playing on their phones. Occasionally, conversations would break out, mostly about the negotiations between the United States and the United Kingdom in the capital, the bilateral trade agreements signed between the mainland and some other country, or other trivial matters such as what was going on with the dogs kept by the Eagle King.

"Mr. Shen!" The head of the Civil Affairs Department asked Shen Bi curiously, "I heard that Mr. Zhang promised you a lifespan-enhancing potion, haven't you applied for it yet?"

"It's a longevity potion, not a longevity 120 potion!" Shen Bi corrected with a smile, then said, "My body is in great shape right now. I can wait until the new longevity potion is released before applying for the new drug!"

Entrusted by Zhang Heping, Shen Bi invited the Governor of Hong Kong, the three Secretaries, and others. As a result, all the people he invited came to the banquet, which made Shen Bi feel very honored and naturally made him very happy.

The head of the economics department smiled and said, "Mr. Shen is highly regarded by Mr. Zhang. Why not take the medicine sooner and continue to help Mr. Zhang manage the banking business?"

"As far as I know, long-term employees of the Peace Group receive free longevity potions as a benefit!"

The head of the Health and Welfare Department interjected, "I just asked Mr. Zhang at the banquet whether the price of the Lifespan 120 medicine would be reduced after the production volume increased, and guess what his answer was?"

“The price will not be reduced!” the Director of Health said with a smile. “However, Mr. Cheung also said before that after Hong Kong Island returns to China, Hong Kong Island residents will enjoy the same treatment as mainland residents, and they can apply online at that time.”

The head of the Education Coordination Section asked with suspicion, "I've heard that the mainland is preparing personnel appointments for Hong Kong after its return to China. Have you heard anything about this?"

Some people laughed when he said that.

Anyone with even a little bit of connections, or who has received a call from the capital to schedule a meeting, knows that the mainland is preparing to set up a personnel preparatory committee for Hong Kong Island.

However, no one spread this news around, lest someone steal their place.

"Will Mr. Zhang hold any position?" the head of the Industry and Commerce Department asked, sparking further speculation. The Governor, having lit a cigar and taken a couple of puffs, tapped the table with his right hand after his secretary announced that everyone had arrived.

"I'd like to say a few words!" The Governor looked at the crowd, and after the surroundings quieted down, he continued, "The matter of allowing one person to hold multiple nationalities on Hong Kong Island must be legislated and registered as soon as possible!"

"You can all figure out the stakes involved, so I won't go into details!"

Having multiple nationalities is clearly a ploy to take advantage of the free quota for longevity potions in mainland China after Hong Kong's return to the mainland.

If this bill passes, it will inevitably attract many foreigners who are unwilling to give up their nationality to join Hong Kong Island, such as the Governor himself.

However, although the Governor of Hong Kong oversees the Legislative Council on Hong Kong Island, he has encountered considerable obstacles in this legislation, which shows that the current Hong Kong Island legislators are not a united front.

After the Governor finished discussing the legislation, he mentioned the arrangements for Cheung Pan-tai to observe government affairs at the Department of Justice, and then let the heads of the 13 bureaus leave first.

The reason for arranging this in public is actually to pave the way for legislation allowing one person to hold multiple nationalities.

Although the Peace Group doesn't have many factories on Hong Kong Island, it doesn't mean its business is small.

After several Hong Kong stock market crises, the Peace Group has acquired stakes in almost every industry on Hong Kong Island.

Given the nature of business, there's no reason not to support some lawmakers who are close to peace groups.

"With the expectation of a free 120-year lifespan potion, all our previous schemes are useless!" The Governor of Hong Kong looked at the heads of the three departments and the group of British officials, and said calmly:

"Now, unless we can get Zhang Heping's family to immigrate to the United Kingdom ahead of schedule and get the Heping Group to withdraw from Hong Kong, Hong Kong won't be able to descend into chaos!"

Those who stayed for the meeting immediately thought of the powerful influence of the Umbrella Security Company upon hearing this.

"Leaving everything else aside for now, our top priority is to help Secretary Fong retain her position as Chief Secretary, ensuring she remains in her post after Hong Kong's return to China!" The Governor looked at a young woman in her fifties dressed in black and continued:
"Currently, Director Fang has received a request for a meeting from the mainland capital."

……

Zhang Pandi flew back to the capital last night.

This morning, she went to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office with two large boxes of small gifts to meet her former colleagues and inquire about personnel appointments in Hong Kong.

Zhang Pandi's career was actually smoother than that of her elder sister, Zhang Zhaodi.

After being transferred to the foreign affairs department in 1983, she was in charge of Hong Kong and Macao-related affairs. She worked in the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office for four years, and was promoted from deputy director to director in just five years.

At this rate of promotion, Zhang Pandi would have been promoted to director by now!
However, in previous years, many people slandered Zhang Heping, and Zhang Pandi was also affected; otherwise, she would not have been transferred to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Task Force.

When Zhang Pandi left the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Wang Qin, the director of the Seventh Bureau whom Zhang Pandi had mentored, slipped her a small note during the farewell handshake.

Zhang Pandi drove quite a distance before parking on the side of the road to check the note Wang Qin had passed:

[Selection is underway, no final decision yet]

Based on Zhang Pandi's seemingly casual question and the small gift she had just given, she knew that Wang Qin was secretly responding to the personnel appointments in Hong Kong Island.

Upon seeing the note, Zhang Pandi immediately recalled what her third brother had said on the phone the previous night: "As long as the candidates are not announced, set your sights on the Department of Justice position!"

"It's all up to us!" Zhang Pandi clenched her fists to encourage herself, then tore the crumpled piece of paper into pieces and stuffed it into her pocket.

Having lived on Hong Kong Island for several years, Cheung Pan-tai still developed the habit of not throwing trash out of her car.

Zhang Pandi called Tang Weiguo to arrange a time and place to meet that evening before driving home to prepare gifts for the next few days.

Leaving aside Elder Hua, Elder Li, Madam Zheng, Director Wang, and that person from the central region, Zhang Pandi knew quite a few people in the capital.

However, among these people, she needs to carefully screen who can speak on her behalf regarding personnel appointments in Hong Kong, since not everyone can be of assistance in this regard… (End of Chapter)